B"H

THOUGHTS BEFORE ROSH HASHANA

 

Dear Friends:

We stand at the threshold of a New Year.

What will 5769 bring? Will we greet Moshiach ben Dovid?  Will we see, G-d forbid, a world of troubles?  Perhaps both.

As we end 5768, several huge financial firms, pillars of Wall Street, have collapsed or are on the verge of collapse.  Perhaps one could say, "The stock market does not concern me," but in today's world, everything affects everything else.  The entire United States financial structure is endangered. 

The shocks to the system are becoming profound. 

My dear friends, I believe it is time to fasten our seatbelts.  I am sure that most of us prefer an orderly world, but events seem out of control.  Let us remember that, before the Biblical Exodus from Egypt, the entire dominant civilization of that ancient world collapsed suddenly.  Our rabbis tell us that our Final Exodus will resemble the Biblical Exodus, and I do believe we should try to prepare for events of huge magnitude. 

This is shocking!  How can we contemplate such things in our own life?  But we may not have the luxury of choice.  Think back a mere seventy years.  Is it so long ago that our parents and grandparents in Europe saw the collapse of their entire world? 

How does one prepare for cataclysmic change? 

We must constantly remember what happened in Biblical Egypt.  There, the collapse of the dominant culture was followed by the greatest event in the history of the world, the Exodus from that alien society and the Revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai!  In our case, I would suggest that there is only one way to deal with the current cataclysmic changes, and that is by having hope and belief that G-d is bringing about the Final Redemption and that "He will let us hear, in His compassion, FOR A SECOND TIME, in the presence of all living ... 'I am your G-d."' [1]

Moses, Aaron and those Children of Israel who followed them escaped UNHARMED from crumbling Egypt!  Our rabbis tell us that those who grasp onto the Torah with all our strength, who hold fast to our G-d as we have done for two thousand years of exile, will live to enjoy the New Exodus and the New Redemption, culminating in the building of the Eternal Temple, may we see it soon in our days!

 

Several weeks ago, I heard Rabbi Matisyahu Solomon discussing the importance of Shema Yisroel.  We say in our prayers, "Guardian of Israel, protect the remnant of Israel, let not Israel be destroyed, those who proclaim, 'Hear O Israel."'

What is so powerful about saying the "Shema"?

My friends, is it not written, "You shall love the L-rd your G-d with ALL your heart, with ALL your soul and with ALL your resources...."

What does the word "ALL" mean?

Perhaps it means exactly what it says!  

Perhaps it means there is NO ROOM for anything else! 

Perhaps it means that unless we are COMPLETELY devoted to G-d we are not going to survive!

Perhaps it means that EVERYTHING ELSE is gornisht, of no importance, not real! 

Perhaps it means that our infatuation with money, our obsession with sports and popular culture, our love for fine glatt kosher dining, fine cars, the "good" life, the life we have learned to value in America, the sumptuous houses, the vacations, the entertainment — perhaps they are all A TRICK OF THE SATAN, to suck us into the bottomless pit of Exile, G-d forbid, just as our ancestors were sucked into the bottomless pit of Egyptian idolatry, where they descended to the forty-ninth level of depravity, only to be rescued by G-d at the very last second before disappearing forever!

BUT NOT ALL WERE RESCUED!

EIGHTY PERCENT NEVER LEFT EGYPT! [2]

My friends, we have to ask ourselves: ARE WE IN LOVE WITH EXILE? 

ARE WE IN LOVE WITH THE CULTURE THAT SURROUNDS US? 

If so, then we are in mortal danger, G-d forbid.  I am not speaking only about America.  I repeat: America has been good to us and we must be grateful, but the entire Western World is in danger right now.  This is not a desire, but a fact, backed up by the words of our Prophets, who described the events which would occur at the end of history.  Listen to the words of the Prophet to the Nations:

"Wail, for the day of G-d is near; it will come like a sudden attack from the Almighty... All hands will grow weak and every human heart will melt. They will be terrorized. [ Please note that word.]  Aches and pains will seize them; they will be in travail like a woman in childbirth... Behold, the day of G-d is coming, a day of ... burning anger, to make the land desolate, and He will annihilate its sinners from it." [3]

 

My friends, the Shofar is about to blow, and maybe not just the Shofar of Rosh Hashana, but the Shofar Gadol announcing the Final Redemption of Am Yisroel.  I do believe that we must go into 5769 with ALL OUR HEARTS, ALL OUR SOULS AND ALL OUR RESOURCES dedicated to Our Father in Heaven.  With any lesser commitment, I am afraid we may not be able to hang on for the ride.

G-d gives us a present at this time of year, a beautiful source of solace and encouragement as we enter the Halls of Judgment.  G-d holds our hand, as it were, and whispers in our ears the precious words of His servant Dovid.  Let us walk together toward judgment with these words echoing in our hearts.

" G-d is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?  ... When evildoers approach me to devour my flesh ... it is they who stumble and fall... Though an army would besiege me, my heart would not fear... One thing I asked of G-d , that I shall seek: that I dwell in the House of G-d all the days of my life, to behold the sweetness of G-d and to contemplate in His Sanctuary.  Indeed He will hide me in His shelter on the day of evil.  He will conceal me ... in His tent.... Strengthen yourself and He will give you courage, and hope to G-d." [4]

With hope for the imminent Final Redemption!

— Roy S. Neuberger